Police: Body found near Massachusetts river was decapitated

Updated 8:22 pm, Thursday, December 1, 2016

LAWRENCE, Mass. (AP) — Police are investigating the grisly discovery of a body near the Merrimack River in Lawrence.

The Eagle Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/2gLXVZ2 ) that the decapitated body was found Thursday afternoon on a narrow lane near leading to the river and that the head was also discovered.

Police said the body was that of a male but provided no other details. It was not known if the discovery was connected to the disappearance of a teenage boy, who was last seen more than two weeks ago at his grandmother's house.

The Essex District Attorney's office said in a brief statement that the body was found on the riverbank by a woman walking her dog and that foul play was suspected.